Your car needs maintenance to keep it in top condition. But we’re not just talking about the windshield and the chassis – under the hood maintenance is essential to ensuring that your vehicle is safe when you’re on the road. If you’re wondering where exactly you should pay attention to, the air filters are a good place to start. Filters take in a lot of dirt, dust and other debris and prevent getting into your car’s internals. As such, a clean air filter enables better maintenance and efficiency for your engine. But how do you go about cleaning your air filters on your Kia car? Not to worry, we’ve got you covered.
Before getting into the how, it's important to get to the when. Air filters should generally be changed every 10,000km to 15,000km every 2-3 years (actual recommendation may depend on your Kia model). But there are few common signs that indicate its time for some spring cleaning on your air filters. Usual symptoms include misfiring engine, reduced fuel economy, unusual engine sounds, and black smoke emissions from the exhaust to name a few. Any of these issues may indicate a problem with your air filter. Thereby, sometimes all it takes is getting the air filters a thorough clean up.
Cleaning your Kia car’s air filters
The first step is the obvious one, locating your air filter. Usually, you will find the air filter residing on top of the engine. If by any chance you can’t find it, you can take a look at your Kia manual. Afterwards, you can remove the filter. Here, you may need to remove the plastic/metal housing around the filter prior to getting it out. It's just a matter of taking the clips out for newer cars. Though at times you might need to unscrew a few bolts for older models.
Next is the most important part, cleaning your air filter. Start with the vacuum cleaner. Vacuum both sides of the filter for a few minutes. Ensure all visible dirt and debris is removed. Hold up the filter to a bright light to check if there’s any visible debris remaining. Once you’re done start cleaning it with water. This might be a little time consuming, particularly considering the drying process. But this works better for your filter in the long run.
Submerge the filter in water with a bit of laundry detergent in it. Clean the filter while submerged and remove the filter from the water. Rinse it with water and leave it to dry. It should be noted that the filter should be completely dry before putting it in place again. Even a little dampness could have serious repercussions for your engine.
Give your Kia the Phil Gilbert treatment
The above is a list of few, but effective things you could do to thoroughly clean your air filters. But if you ever feel like your Kia car deserves a more premium level service, feel free to give us a buzz.
Phil Gilbert has been serving the automobile industry in Sydney for over a decade. We specialise in your Kia car essentials, including servicing your air filters. So, come visit Phil Gilbert Kia or you can shop our Parts & Accessories store online today. You can also book a service online, call us on (02) 9735 8400 or contact us here.
